Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center

The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center (AFNWC), established on March 31, 2006, is the nuclear-focused center within Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) synchronizing all aspects of nuclear materiel management on behalf of the AFMC commander in direct support of Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).

Headquartered at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, the center has about 1,100 personnel assigned at 18 locations worldwide and consists of four major execution directorates: Air Delivered Capabilities; Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Systems; Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) Integration; and Nuclear Technology and Interagency. It also has several functional directorates and its commander is dual-hatted as the Air Force Program Executive Officer (PEO) for Strategic Systems.

AFNWC Mission:Deliver nuclear capabilities Warfighters use every day to deter and assure.

AFNWC Strategic Goals:- Resource, develop, and care for a diverse, mission-driven workforce- Acquire and sustain effective nuclear weapon systems in a timely and cost effective manner- Provide agile and effective Nuclear Materiel Management in support of AFGSC, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and other stakeholders

Major Organizations

Air Delivered Capabilities DirectorateThis directorate is principally located at Kirtland AFB, with operating locations at Eglin AFB, Florida; Joint Base San Antonio, Texas; Ramstein AFB, Germany; Robins AFB, Georgia; Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The directorate is comprised of about 38 active-duty military and 183 federal civilians. It also has positions for deputy program managers and product support managers for nuclear matters embedded in program offices for the B-2/B-21, B-52, F-15, F-16, F-35, and authorized test systems and support equipment. The directorate is responsible for delivering, sustaining and supporting air-delivered nuclear weapon systems for our warfighters to secure the future of our nation and our allies every day. Programs managed by the directorate include: B61-12 Life Extension Program, Long Range Stand-Off Weapon, W80-4 Life Extension Program, overseas Weapon Storage and Security System, Secure Transportable Maintenance System, Protective Aircraft Shelter Interior Intrusion Detection System, and Air-Launched Cruise Missile (AGM-86B/C/D) sustainment.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Systems DirectorateThis directorate is principally located at Hill AFB, Utah, with operating locations at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; Malmstrom AFB, Montana; Minot AFB, North Dakota; and Vandenberg AFB, California. It is comprised of about 70 active-duty military and 400 federal civilians. The directorate is responsible for inception-to-retirement, integrated weapons system management of the Minuteman III (LGM-30) and Ground Based Strategic Deterrent. The directorate develops, acquires and supports silo-based ICBMs and provides program direction and logistics support as the single face to the customer. The directorate is also responsible for acquisition, systems engineering and depot repair. It manages equipment spares, provides storage and transportation, and accomplishes modifications and equipment replacement to sustain silo-based ICBM systems.

Nuclear Command, Control and Communications Integration DirectorateThis directorate, which achieved initial operational capability in December 2016, is principally located at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, and Kirtland AFB. It will eventually include personnel at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana; Fort Meade, Maryland; Los Angeles AFB, California; Hill AFB; Robins AFB; Tinker AFB; and Wright-Patterson AFB. Once fully manned, the directorate will be comprised of about six active-duty military and 57 federal civilians. It is responsible for integrating the NC3 Weapon System (AN/USQ.225) across the Air Force. The directorate advises AFGSC on the NC3 Weapon System's technical architecture and informs key decisions regarding investment and modernization. The directorate is also responsible for the weapon system’s configuration management, system test, system verification, and system certification. In addition, its director is dual-hatted as the Air Force PEO for NC3.

Nuclear Technology and Interagency DirectorateThis directorate is located at Kirtland AFB and is comprised of about 25 active-duty military and 90 federal civilians. The directorate is responsible for providing intelligence support to AFNWC, analyzing the full spectrum of weapons effects to support acquisition programs and inform tactics and procedures, and assessing current and future nuclear systems to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities. The directorate is also responsible for managing the Air Force's Nuclear Certification Program and leading the capability development initiatives for all pre-Milestone A/B activities within the center.